When you feel your life becoming increasingly difficult and stress overcomes both your mind and body, it can be hard to focus on the important things. When you lose control of your focus and desires, it can cause you to feel unmotivated and exhausted.

But with the help of mudras and mantras, you can easily realign your focus and put your priorities back into place.

The term mudra is derived from two Sanskrit words. The first being MUD, meaning delight or pleasure, and the second being DRA, meaning to continue onward. The word itself means to move forward with joy in order to reconnect with your higher self.

To go along with mudras, is the term mantra. Mantras have been part of various Hindu and Buddhist rituals for years—often being associated with prayers or holy beliefs. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, mantra is defined as a word or phrase that is repeated often or that expresses someone’s basic beliefs.

Below are a few simple mudras and mantras that you can practice at anytime to help motivate you to take on whatever life throws at you.

Vajrapradama Mudra

Benefits:

Instills self-confidence

Cultivates and develops inner strength

Restores faith

Step-by-step:

Interlace your fingers along with your thumbs so that it points toward your chest. Draw your elbows open. Take a deep breath. Hold it for 2-3 seconds and release slowly.Practice everyday for 10-15 minutes.

Mantra:

"I am capable."

This mantra is simple—you are capable of accomplishing great things. You should take pride in your struggles and the process that comes along with chasing your dreams. Don’t ever give up or put yourself down. Just continue to climb no matter how hard something becomes.

Aakash Mudra

Benefits:

Helps create peaceful thoughts

Dispels negative thoughts

Protects from illness

Prevents over-eating or over-indulging

Step-by-step:

Place your right hand on your chest and palm-faced forward. Now, with your left hand, take your middle finger and allow it to touch the tip of the thumb. The remaining fingers should rest as straight as possible. The palm of your left hand should face upward.Practice this mudra in a serene environment for about 30 minutes.

Mantra:

"I didn’t wake up today to be mediocre."

When you wake up in the morning, make sure that you wake up with a goal in mind. This goal should be responsible for the change you want to see in the world. Make yourself aware that you are extraordinary and that you can an influence others.

Anjali Mudra

Benefits:

Helps relieve anxiety and stress

Helps to connect you with your spirituality

Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain

Used to enter the meditative state

Step-by-step:

Press your palms together in front of your face and align them with your cheeks. Make sure that your elbow is perpendicular and is pointed down to the floor.Practice this mudra everyday for about five minutes.

Mantra:

"I will follow my fear because it is the GPS for my soul."

Sometimes fear becomes the best motivator for you. The soul thrives off of fear and if you are able to overcome your fear, then you can conquer the world or any task at hand.

Lotus Mudra

Benefits:

Purifies your body and thoughts

Relaxes and stabilizes your mind

Treats ulcers and fevers

Creates a more loving attitude toward others

Step-by-step:

Bring your hands together toward your heart along with your thumbs pointed toward your chest. Your palm and fingers should touch. Gradually spread your index fingers and middle finder along with your ring fingers as if you are holding a lotus, wide open. Practice this mudra for about five minutes everyday.

Mantra:

"Try for myself and not for others."

If you are comparing yourself with others, you will not be able to find the motivation required for achieving your goals. When you feel less energetic and motivated, say these words and practice the lotus mudra to bring the positive energy back into your life.